1. Learning stylesLearning PreferencesLearning Strategies

2. What’s the difference? “Learning Style” is the individual learner’s distinctive and habitual manner of acquiring knowledge, skills or attitudes through study or experience. “Learning Preference” is the favouring of one particular mode over another, with the consequence that some people have a preference for learning from doing, while others may have a preference for listening or watching. “Learning Strategies” are the plans of action we adopt in the acquisition of knowledge, skills or attitudes through study or experience.

3. Major theoretical ideas • Field Dependence/Independence • Serialists/holists • Deep/surface processors

4. Major theoretical ideas (cont) • Four-stage cycle (Kolb 1976) • Concrete experience (CE) • Reflective observation (RO) • Abstract concepts (AC) • Active experimentation (AE)

5. Kolb’s Theory Concrete experience accommodator diverger Reflective observation Active experimentation converger assimilator Abstract conceptualisation

6. Major theoretical ideas (cont) • 4 MAT system • Integration of Kolb’s ideas with left brain right brain theory • www.aboutlearning.com • Multiple intelligences

7. Learning Preferences • Canfield Learning Styles Inventory (CLSI) • 16 learning preference subscale scores in three major categories • Conditions • Content • Modes

8. Learning strategies • Three major domains of learning strategies • Metacognitive • Higher order skills – planning, monitoring or evaluating the success of a learning strategy • Cognitive • Directly dealing with information presented to organise and process to effect learning • Social affective • Interactions with others

9. Characteristics of VET Learners in Australia – Smith and Dalton 2005 • More visual than verbal - watch and see rather than read and listen • Hands-on learners – prefer to do and practise • Prefer socially contextuallised learning in groups • Not self directed

10. Postrational learning theory- cognitive-emotive engagement + Emotion - - + Cognition Source: Mark McCrindle Reseach

11. Discussion questionsGetting to Grips with Learning Styles – Smith and Dalton 2005 • Discuss the current techniques you use to address students’ needs in your programs. Which learning style theory most closely aligns to these techniques? • Of the group of learners you are considering for your major assessment, what are the learning preferences displayed? How have you identified these styles? • Consider pages 15-21 – identify strategies that you might engage in the design and delivery of future programs.